by Sienna Snow
I laughed at Max’s veiled threat.
I inhaled deep and prayed as we drove. I will find you, mera behna.
James took my hand in his and squeezed. “We are about to pull up to the lab. Do not leave the vehicle until I give the all-clear.”
I nodded. Sweat prickled my skin.
He exited the car and returned almost immediately. “Mrs. Dane.” James’s voice was somber. “Ari, this place isn’t secure. Please don’t fight me on this. Wait for me to return. Once we’ve inspected the building, you can come in.”
He called me Ari.
My lips trembled, and I wrapped my arms around myself. “Okay, I’ll stay put. Be careful.”
Ten minutes passed, and James hadn’t returned. My stomach twisted in knots. I hated feeling helpless. Why hadn’t I listened to Milla and learned to shoot a gun? Then I wouldn’t be defenseless. God. I hoped she took her own advice and gave them hell.
A knock on the door startled me out of my thoughts.
One of the agents opened the door, and I stepped out. “How long do I have in the lab?”
“No more than twenty minutes.”
“Well, let’s get moving.” I tried to push past the agent, but he blocked my way.
“I’m sorry, but you must come with me.” He grabbed me by the waist and covered my mouth with a sickly-sweet-scented cloth.
I screamed and struggled against the hold. Another man came into view with his hand raised, and everything went black.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
I awakened with a deep pain searing through my head. Blood dripped down my forehead and into my eyes, blurring any possibility of seeing my surroundings. I winced as I struggled against the ropes binding my wrists. My heart pummeled out of control as fear consumed me. Where was James?
Oh God, not again.
Calm down, Arya. Think.
The faint sound of another person breathing echoed in the small, closeted room. I rocked my body trying to rotate away from the wall I faced.
“Hello? Is anyone there?”
A moan sounded in response.
“Please tell me who you are. Are you hurt?” I finally flipped my body to the other side. A beaten Milla, barely covered in shorts and a tank, lay on the floor. My heart sunk and cried out. One eye was swollen shut, and cuts, welts, and bruises covered most of her exposed skin.
“Oh Mil. What have they done to you?”
I scooted my bottom until I neared Milla. I leaned into her face. “Please, mera behna, I need you to be okay. Please wake up.”
Milla moaned louder and blinked one eye open. “Arya?” she breathed.
“It’s me.”
“You look like hammered shit.”
A tear rolled down my face. Trust Mil to use humor at a time like this. “You’re no pageant queen, either.”
“How long—” she winced “—have they had you?”
“I don’t know. I was at the lab, waiting for James to search the facility and give me the all-clear to go inside. When an agent came to get me, I didn’t think anything of it. The next thing I know, someone knocked me out and I woke here.” I struggled with the rope binding me. Then I remembered the restrain-manipulation techniques James taught me, if I ever was in this situation. I twisted my wrists in a figure-eight pattern and hoped the shifting of my hands would loosen the rope. “I know you’re scared, but we’ll get out of here. Lex and Max will find us.”
“Promise me, no matter what, don’t let them access the system.”
“Who are they? Who’s got us?” One of the knots released, allowing me a little more movement.
“Jacob. And I think he’s working with a broker for the deal.”
“What?” Dread crept in. “It has to be Vladimir Christof. They were at the club together.”
“Oh, shit, Arya. Did he recognize you? Fuck!” she cried. “I hurt so much.”
“Stay still, Mil. I’m almost loose. Then I’m going to help you. And no, he thought I was Max’s new flavor. He made some comment about knowing Max was my former lover.”
“Now it makes sense why they took me. Jacob had to have found out that you kept all the codes to yourself and he knows if he had me, you’d do anything to find me. Oh God, what about Lex?”
My hands came free, and I immediately gathered Milla in my arms. “I don’t know. We have to figure out how to get out of here.” Milla whimpered, and I held her closer, rocking her back and forth. My dear friend captured because of me.
“Ar—”
“Shhh,” I continued to rock her. “Don’t use your energy.”
“No listen, there’s something else you need to know. It has to do with Africa. Jacob—”
At that moment, the door opened.
“Stay quiet, Mil. Let them think you’re still out.”
She nodded her response as Jacob entered the room.
“I see you’re awake and figured out how to untie yourself.” He frowned and continued walking toward me. “Too bad your friend over there isn’t as tough as she acts. Lex’s whore couldn’t give me the details I needed. Maybe you’ll be more accommodating.”
Rage filled me. The lying two-faced bastard was supposed to be Max’s friend.
Jacob strolled around us, shaking his head with his hands in his pockets. “I’m never going to understand how two foreign tramps made it so big.”
“It’s called using our brains, fucker.”
“Tsk-tsk. That isn’t very polite. I would have expected Max to have trained you better.”
I ignored his comment. “Why? I don’t understand why you’re doing this.”
“I’m tired of living in the shadows.”
“Whose shadows? That doesn’t make sense. You came from money. You can do anything you desire.”
“Max’s, for one. Even with his father’s scandal he came out on top.”
Then it hit me. “You wanted it handed to you, right? Poor little rich boy, sixth in line to the family fortune. God, you’re pathetic.”
“Keep telling yourself that. Unlike your name, mine opens doors.”
“How did that work out for you?”
“Better than you think. Right now, we’re negotiating with your ever-loving adoptive brother. What do you think the two of you will go for?”
“Lex will find you before you know it.”
I prayed the tracker on my collar worked.
“Don’t hold your breath. My investor’s underground connections far surpass Lex’s. Maybe I can get a little more out of your new fiancé.”
Max. He’ll find me. I know he will.
“You aren’t making any sense,” I hissed. “By taking us, your reputation will go down in the gutter. Don’t you think people are going to notice that at the same time both Milla and I go missing, you’re nowhere to be found?”
“Don’t worry about those details. I have a plan.” He crouched down and attempted to touch Milla’s face, but I shielded her with my arm. “Too bad she’s out of commission. I’ve wanted a taste of her gorgeous, submissive body for years. Maybe after our negotiations with her master, I’ll take a little taste of her.”
“You touch her and I will kill you.”
My head jolted back as he fisted my hair in an excruciating grip. “At this moment, you’re closer to death than I am.”
With a sudden jerk, he released my scalp, and shook his head in dismay. “I will never understand how a man like Max, with his impeccable background and breeding, ever fell for you. Some submissive you make. You talk too much, you’re a cold bitch, and you possess no pedigree whatsoever. If it weren’t for your interference, Caitlin and Max would be happily married and she wouldn’t be pining over that stupid Brit.”
“Don’t even pretend to care about Caitlin. All you really wanted was access to Max’s money. Is that what you think will happen with Vladimir Christof? That he’ll give you free reign to his empire if you play wingman for him?”
Jacob hauled me up with his biting grip. “Be careful or Milla will be the on
ly hostage returned.”
My wrist snapped as he twisted my arms behind my back. I screamed as pain shot through my hand.
“I want to introduce you to someone. He’s waited many years to meet you again.”
My mind whirled as my scalp prickled and all the hairs on my body crept straight up. “Hello, Ms. Rey. Remember me?”
I glanced at the man who had entered, a man I knew only as Greg. My body heated and the rage I’d held tight for five years burst free. “You monster!” I kicked out with my feet and thrashed against Jacob. Tears poured down my face, the pain I’d put to rest consuming me. “How could you? How could you do that to those babies? You’re a monster,” I panted.
“Oh, now that’s not very becoming behavior from a world-renowned philanthropist. Wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Brady?” he asked Jacob, as he strolled to stand in front of me and ran a finger down my cheek.
I flinched at his touch and spit in his face.
The next second a slap jarred my head and fire exploded throughout my cheek. “You better get yourself under control before the boss gets here. He won’t be as lenient as I am.” He gestured to Milla. “Ask your friend over there. Between Mr. Brady and myself, we taught her the rules of true sadism.”
Oh God, what did they do to her? Milla still laid motionless on the ground.
“You bastard.”
“Yes, but then I’m a baby killer, if you remember. Now let’s get her to the boss.”
Jacob shoved me forward, through the doorway and up two flights of stairs. I stumbled twice trying to glance behind me. They’d left the door open. Milla could escape.
Please, mera behna, be strong enough to find help.
We entered what appeared to be the rooftop deck of one of the warehouses, near Boston Harbor. I scanned the area, trying to figure out where we were. I recognized the nearby buildings; this was Excalibur, a nightclub known for its shady clients.
“Boss, we’ve got her. She woke a few minutes ago.”
A person lounged behind the curtains of a cabana. “Bring her here.”
Fuck. Christof!
“Welcome Arya, or should I refer to you as ‘mine’?” Christof chuckled and motioned me toward him. “I knew you were a most worthy adversary.”
I glared, taking in the pristine appearance of the one man I feared more than the murderer of my girls. His ice-blond hair and crystal-gray eyes created the aura of a calm fallen angel every woman would desire. He seemed friendly and casual, dressed in white linen slacks and a navy polo shirt, but his calculating gaze gave away his true self.
Evil.
Jacob released my arms and I fell forward. I caught myself before I hit the ground, grinding my teeth against the pain in my wrist. I stumbled onto a nearby lounge chair. Christof traced my collar and fingered the triskele at the clasp. I stiffened, praying he wouldn’t notice the tracker.
“I should have known Max could not resist making you his again. I would have assumed that he would have lost interest when he realized you no longer possessed the traits necessary for a true submissive. But then again, you were very convincing. You fooled me. Your pose and admiration for your master were quite desirable.”
I tried to remain calm. Keeping a level head was the only way I was going to survive this. “Why am I here?”
“To activate your program, of course. I found your hiding place, and while you were on vacation I brought the server here and procured Ms. Castra.”
Shit, shit, shit. He had the duplicate software. He must not have activated it, or the worm would have infiltrated his whole system.
“How did you get it? It isn’t ready. We’re still in the prototype stage. I—”
“Don’t underestimate me, Ms. Rey, or should I say Mrs. Dane?”
“What?” Jacob shouted. “You conned him into marrying you?”
“Quiet, Mr. Brady,” Christof glared in Jacob’s direction and then turned back to me. “As I was saying, I know you’ve run a successful test and are ready to launch as soon as the funds have cleared.”
How would he know all this? Even if Jacob were behind the break-ins, he couldn’t have learned that kind of information.
“Why are you surprised? There is a lot of information you can acquire when you know the right people. Discovering your secret marriage was much easier than learning your software was complete and its hiding place, but then I have plenty of resources to assist my cause.”
He gestured with his hand and two men in leather jackets and black slacks brought a blood-covered woman out from another cabana and threw her on the ground at my feet.
My stomach rolled, as I scanned and then recognized the slumped form. Jane Erickson. No, she wouldn’t betray Max.
“Like you, she fell in love with the wrong man. Lonely women are such easy prey.”
Huh? Jane was breathtaking; she could have any man she wanted.
“When Ms. Erickson figured out that her secret crush had eyes only for his former lady love, she sought out his dear friend for comfort.”
“Why?” I asked Jacob. “What did you get by seducing her? She’s a good, kind person.”
Jacob walked with his hand tucked into his pocket and paused in front of me. “Sex, of course. She is a hot piece of ass, and she had access to Arcane. Too bad no one knew you didn’t trust your own people.”
Thank God for my paranoia.
“You owe me, Mrs. Dane,” Christof interrupted. He glared at Jacob, commanding his silence. “And launching this software will be the perfect payment for my many losses.”
“I owe you nothing. You—”
“Oh, but you do. Don’t fool yourself. Your involvement many years ago cost me men, time, and money. Retribution for crossing me is typically very stiff, but I decided you’d have other uses.”
A chill went down my spine. I didn’t have a choice but to help him. Well, until I knew Milla escaped or Max had traced us to the warehouse.
“If you know the software is active, then why haven’t you implemented the program? Any trained analyst can operate the components.”
“I may not have your level of intelligence, but I am hardly stupid. I know all about how the wrong order of activation can corrupt the system. You are here to make sure everything runs smoothly.”
“If you’d done your research, you’d know I don’t work well under pressure. What if I accidentally damage something?” It was a long shot, but maybe he’d believe that.
“You may hate public speaking and socializing, but you are renowned for working best in situations of high stress. If it wasn’t for your performance at Def Con, we would have never crossed paths.”
Until this day, I’d never regretted attending that stupid conference. No. I shook the thought from my mind. Without the Def Con challenge I wouldn’t have my company or have met Max.
“What if I refuse?”
“We have ways of making people cooperate. Plus we know your weakness.”
“And that is?” I retorted.
“Your family, including your very hurt friend downstairs.”
“You’re a bastard, Christof. Does abusing a helpless woman get you off?”
His eyes crinkled at the sides. “You have a lot of spirit, Mrs. Dane. I hate to disappoint you, but I wasn’t the one who abused your friend or Ms. Erickson. That honor belongs to my associate, Mr. Brady, and his companion. I may not enjoy his type of kink, but who am I to deny him his vice?”
Fury filled me. These men represented the scum of the earth, and Christof was no different. “If you think I’m going to help, you’re out of your mind. You might as well kill me, because I won’t do it.”
“Shut that bitch up.” Jacob stalked over and slapped me across the face, propelling me to the ground.
My vision blurred and my eye started to swell. The continuous throbbing in my head dulled the pain in my face and wrist.
“Get control of yourself, Brady, before I lose my temper and teach you a lesson.” Christof commanded in a cold, emotionless tone. He cro
uched down in front of me, extended his hand, and helped me to stand.
“She’s of no value, Vladimir. Let’s be rid of the two whores. I’m sure Jane can figure it out.” This man had the nerve to believe Jane would help him after what he’d done. The stupid prick.
“Stay out of this, Brady. I have not asked for, nor do I require, your counsel.”
“He’s right, I’m of no value. Please listen to him. Let Milla and me go.”
“I cannot do that. You’re priceless to me, Mrs. Dane. I’ve had plans for you for many years. I initially thought to lure you in as part of my team. You see, I’d rather have you work for me than against me.”
He ran a finger down the side of my face and throat, and I cringed. “Sorry, but you’re not my type.”
“I take no offense, myshka. I’m a very confident man with no shortage of women to warm my bed. Having you as my mistress would have made things easier, but we can’t get everything we want—although soon that will be remedied.”
I glared, not voicing a response.
“I must say”—he peered at Jacob—“I was very upset when Mr. Brady almost killed you in his overzealous need to remove you from his dear friend’s life. Lucky for him, he only intended for you to miscarry; otherwise, he wouldn’t be standing before us today.”
“What?” I gasped as my mind spun, and I clenched my fists under the table. Nausea engulfed my stomach and I inhaled deeply, trying to keep my mind focused.
He was behind my babies’ murder. It wasn’t a random act of violence. My heart screamed, remembering the attack. There was a special place in hell for men like him.
“As a present to you, I took care of the man responsible for your pain. I don’t tolerate interference with my plans. You should be happy Dave died a painful death.”
Bile rose in my throat. “But he didn’t. That fucker over there,” I gestured with my head to the left. “Greg is the one who attacked me, Dave was the driver. He wanted to sell my babies.”
Christof’s mouth tightened and his eyes pierced Greg’s, who shifted back and forth where he stood, uncomfortable with the scrutiny he was getting.
“I see. Well, I’ll deal with that now.”
He motioned to his guards, and they shot Greg through the head.
